Rheostat.



G. A. SCHEBFFER.

RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION Hmm JAN.14, 1910.

1,01 1,376. 1 y Patented Dec. 12, 1911;

. jkl/@1229215 ZM C74/ wr/Lave Zeh/@@7671 M m by UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

GUSTAVE A. SCHEEFFER, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIAMETER COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

RHEOSTAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Application led January 14, 1910. Serial No. 538,030.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GUsTAvn A. SCHEEP- rnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inRheostats, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of rheostat particularlyadapted for use in connection with electricity meters adapted to measurea quantity of electricity flowing through any given circuit.

My improved construction provides for accuracy of operation, ease ofinspection and repair and durability of working parts.

My invention particularly consists in a rheostat adapted to be connectedwith the starting coil of an electricity meter in such a manner that byvarying the resistance in the rheostat the current through the startingcoil may be varied as desired and thus the rotative effect of thestarting coil upon the armature may be varied. As a result of thisarrangement when the starting coil is connected in series with thearmature, as is usually done, the current through the starting coil maybe varied to adjust the rotative effort exerted thereby to just balancethe friction of the moving parts without, however, changing the currentflowing through the armature windings in like manner.

The several drawings illustrating my invention are as follows:

Figure 1 is a face view of a magnetic shield employed in an electricmeter, and shows the starting coil rheostat supported from such magneticshield. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the rheostat shown in Fig. 1 takenalong the line 3 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the rheostat shown inFig. 1 taken along the line 4 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, the base 1 supports, by means of two posts,the magnetic shield 20, through which the meter shaft 2 extends. Theshaft is provided with a worm engaging a worm wheel 22 supported by ashaft 76, by means of a bracket 21, from the shield 20. The upper end ofthe shaft 76 carries an arm 77, adapted to engage the crank 78 carriedby the integrating mechanism 211 supported by the upper end of the postsby screws 75.

The magnetic shield 20 has secured to it two brackets 64, which supporta bolt 65, upon which are mounted the resistance coils 66. Eachresistance coil consists of a spool of insulating material upon whichthe resistance coil is wound, the spools then being mounted upon thebolt or rod 65 with connecting terminals between them. These terminals,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, consist of metallic rods of small diameterhaving their inner ends bent around the rod or bolt 65 but insulatedtherefrom by means of a tube of insulating material 68. The other endsof t-he terminals project outward to be engaged by a connecting socket72, which preferably is split to facilitate making good electricalcontactwith the terminals 67. The socket 72 is connected by means of aconductor 71 with one terminal of the starting coil of the meter, whilethe conductor 70 is electrically connected at all times with theterminal 69 at one end of the rheostat, such conductor 70 beingconnected to the other terminal of the starting coil. The terminals ofeach individual resistance coil 66 are connected to the adjacentterminals 67, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, for example, theinner ends of the individual resistance coils might be connected to theterminals 67 above them, while the outer ends of the same coils areconnected to the terminals 67 below them, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus aconvenient means is provided for regulating the rotative effect exertedby the starting coil without change of adjustment of the coil, but bycausing a greater or less amount of current to flow through the coil inorder that the rotative effect exerted upon the armature shallcompensate or just balance the friction of the moving parts; this beingdone without changing the current ilow through the armature windingswhich are connected in series with the starting coil.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment hereindescribed I do not, however, limit myself to this construction, butdesire to claim broadly any equivalent that may suggest itself to thoseskilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A rheostat comprising a supporting rod, resistance coils mounted uponsuch rod,

an individual insulating core for each coil and terminals supported bysuch rod between such coils.

2. A rheostat comprising a supporting rod, resistance coils mounted uponsuch rod, individual insulating spools for such coils and terminal plugssupported by such rod between suoli coils, such plugs adapted to beengaged by aV suitable socket connector to determine the amount ofresistance in circuit.

3. A rheostat comprising a metallic rod threaded at its ends7 resistancecoils supported by and insulated from such rod, and connector plugscarried by and insulated from such rod between such coils, such plugsconnected to the terminals of the resistance coils and clamped inposition between the coils by a nut on one end ot the rod.

4. In combination, a plurality of separable resistance elements mountedupon a oominon support, terminals for such elements secured betweenthein, and a device adapted to be connected with any desired one of suchterminals.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe i'ny naine this 28th day ofDecember, A. D.

GUSTAVE A. SGHEEFFER.

Witnesses ALBERT L. Ro, JOHN E. SCOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. C.

